40.

AMBER'S POV. A photo of me with Vincent was shared. I had no idea that my fears would come true. When Rogger told her that the photo shared by an anonymous person had been featured in several media articles, Asleena could not hide her shock. This was unexpected. The photos were of Asleena and Benny walking around the beach. Also, a photo of the two of them at a seafood restaurant. Asleena recalled, while she and Benny were at the seafood restaurant, there was no one suspicious. Besides, Asleena and Benny's seats were almost in a private location. Why would someone enter the boundary between public and private seating? "Since when did this spread?" Asleena asked. "Since you returned from the construction site last night. But, this morning all the news articles have disappeared. Unfortunately, there are still screenshots taken by other media outlets, so it's still spreading," Rogger explained. Asleena bit her lower lip. Hearing the explanation this morning that the news articles had disappeared made her remember what Benny had said yesterday. Was all the news that disappeared because Joseph ordered it to? Even so, Asleena still couldn't get rid of her worries. The photos were still being spread by others, so the cycle of spreading did not stop. Asleena had no idea who was doing this. "Someone sneaked into the public and private seating areas," Asleena muttered, but Rogger could still hear her. Both of Rogger's eyebrows furrowed. Rogger looked at Asleena questioningly. "Did you make sure it was safe at the time, Miss Asleena?" Asleena nodded her head. "Yes, of course. I can't allow my feelings to be unsettled if I'm in a public seating area." "But, how did he get the portrait of you with Mr. Benny?" With a facial expression that was guessing at something, Asleena snapped her fingers while nodding in agreement. "That's what I meant. I didn't see anyone dressed mysteriously and suspiciously there at all," Asleena replied. She was still trying to rethink the situation she saw at the restaurant yesterday. Rogger only watched Asleena for a split second. Unfortunately, when Asleena and Benny decided to go out together, Rogger was not allowed to follow them. Rogger had guessed that there would be people who would spread photos like this. Moreover, Benny was the heiress of a big company and Joseph had a lot of contacts. It was certain that there would be people from other companies who wanted to bring Benny down. "Miss Asleena, you should be more careful after this," Rogger replied with a quiet but serious warning. "I could have taken the initiative to find a way to take better care of you at that time. I'm sorry, Miss Asleena," Rogger continued as he bowed his body in remorse. Asleena just sighed heavily. She didn't want to blame Rogger entirely, because the personal secretary had asked permission to follow him away. But it was Asleena who refused Rogger's request. "You're not wrong at all, Rogger. I already have uncomfortable thoughts and feelings," Asleena replied. There was a look of unrest on her face at that moment. "I don't know how I didn't pay careful attention to the situation back then." Rogger could not say anything now. He was confused because Asleena seemed to be very worried. "Miss Asleena, wouldn't it be better for you to discuss this with Mr. Benny?" Rogger made a suggestion. "Before the news spreads even faster." Ah, right. Asleena had not heard anything from Benny. Benny should have known about the news of the photo of the two of them spreading to the media articles. Because Asleena was sure that it was Joseph who made all the news articles that were released to be taken down simultaneously. But... why hadn't Benny said anything to her? Asleena checked her cell phone. The display was still the same as a few hours ago. It was empty. There were no message notifications. Why didn't Benny say anything to her? *** "Have you seen the news?" asked Joseph as he looked at Asleena and Benny in turn. Now Asleena and Benny were in the dining room of Joseph's mansion. There was Waston who joined the gathering, not followed by Kathrine who was in a work meeting. Everyone knew that the photo of Asleena and Benny had spread throughout the media. Asleena did not expect that Joseph would immediately hold a meeting at this mansion. But on the other hand Asleena also felt relief because it turned out that Joseph immediately took action. "I have asked several media companies to take down the main articles that were first released," Joseph continued to tell her. There was disappointment, irritation, and confusion on his face at that moment. Noticing the look on Joseph's face made Asleena somewhat uncomfortable. Asleena could not say anything and let the situation become silent. "But unfortunately irresponsible people took screenshots and spread them to the gossip news media," Joseph expressed his concern as he let out a long breath. "The news spread very quickly," Waston agreed. The concern on his face was no less great than Joseph's. "Aish. Why would anyone screenshot a picture of you two?" No one answered. Everyone in this room showed concern on their facial expressions. No one knew who the perpetrators of the photo of Asleena and Benny were. If only they all knew... "Did you really not see any suspicious figures? There's no way an ordinary person could take a photo of a private seat in the border area with a public seat." "There could be, it's very plausible. Because even though it's a private seating area, it's just the area," Benny replied after being silent for a while. He didn't look anywhere but straight at the table. Benny, still looking intensely at the table as if trying to remember something, then continued, "I didn't feel anyone suspicious. Because everyone... around us... looked like regular visitors." "If he can get close to the private seating area for certain customers, then he has access," Joseph replied with his opinion. "If that's the case... he must be from a wealthy family, or his company is wealthy to be able to penetrate that area." "That's right. Around that area, as I recall, no cameras are allowed. So the only reasonable possibility is that he was in the same area," Benny replied. Asleena racked her brain again to remember the surroundings of the private area. Benny was right. Everyone looked the same in the private seating area. That means... either the person's disguise worked, or the anonymous person is from a wealthy family. Because not just anyone could come to the private living area. "What should we do?" asked Asleena. "If he's a person from a prominent family, how can we eradicate him without bringing him down too?" Tick. Tak. Tick. No. The sound of the wall clock was the only sound. After Asleena's words were heard, no one answered immediately. Before Benny finally grinned with satisfaction. A tug at the corners of his lips formed slowly as an idea flashed through his brain.